Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - first time travelers to Europe!

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first time travelers to Europe!

My husband and I are planning a trip to Europe at the end of June. We plan to spend a couple of days in Paris then take the train south to southern France and than possible drive along the coast of Italy. Wecan take 10 days for our trip. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Melissa, Congratulations and I sure hope you enjoy it! If I may make a suggestion for you...do not make the mistake of spreading yourself too thin. I would limit my first trip to Paris or Paris and Provence. For example, my wife and I stayed 10 days in Provence in Septemebr 2001 and on our last trip to Paris we stayed 10 days. Since you have 10 days and if you must fly into and out of Paris , I suggest that you consider the following: 1. Paris for the first three days 2. Train to Avignon and stay in Provence for four days 3. Return to Paris for final three days. This will give you some time to visit Provence, my favorite place in the 21 countries I've visited. Be certain to see Orange, chateauneuf du Pape for wine tasting, Avignon, Arles and Luberon hill towns. You could spend all four nights in either Arles or Avignon and then spend one day in Arles, one day in Avignon and the third day in the Lyberons and if a 4th then go to CDP and taste the best red wines in the world, IMHO!, As for Paris any good guide book will give you the things to see. However, depending upon your taste I'd suggest the Eifle Tower, Arche de Triumphe( go to the top for a great view), Sacre Coure, Louvre and Muse D'orsay(impressionists) and my personal favorite the Muse Rodin. Hope that this helps! US

You only have 10 days and you want to do all that? You will need another vacation after all that!!! My suggestion to you is to pick only 2 destinations in France and then explore those places.

No one ever gets enough of Paris, but four days is enough for your first taste, especially if you don't get to europe often. My first trip to Europe was four days in Paris, then the overnight train to Venice for a couple days, then four days in Florence. Yes, I did want to go back to Paris (and I did so) but I'm glad I went to Italy too.

Melissa, You don't mention your husband and your age group and I think this has a lot to do with the answers you might get. When I was much younger, I would travel much faster, and now I like to go slower and really take in the place I'm visiting. IMO travelling at a fast pace takes so much energy and can be exhausting unless you're young enough and have that kind of energy. One thing that would be wise if you can, fly into Paris and out of your last destination (whichever you decide) so you won't have to backtrack to get back to Paris. Even though it will be rushed, what you suggest is doable, assuming you have the energy to do it!

Don't underestimate Paris. I think you are allowing too little time there, despite the lure of other attractions. If you arrive prepared for the visit, you will find that even 6 days is not enough. One reason, of course, is that there are several major attractions on the outskirts of Paris, incuding but certainly not limited to Versailles, Fontainebleau, and Vaux-le-Vicomte. Within Paris itself, there is a long list of block buster attractions and a host of smaller, so called second tier, attractions that are non the less most interesting to visit. I have been to Paris 4 times, and there are still attractions that I have not yet visited as well as several to which I want to return, e.g. the Louvre and Musee d'Orsay.

Ten days in any one of your proposed destinations is not long enough. Unless you wish to "breeze through" for future reference.

We're older 60-65 women and we always do too much on each vacation. But, we still enjoy them. 1st Rule - never carry anything in your handbag that you cannot live without. Get a waist wallet, at your travel store and keep money, credit cards, and passports in these. Just came home from Italy and Munich, Germany and am always amazed at meeting someone who have had their wallet lifted. (Group we met from Ohio at the Vatican, the man had his wallet lifted day before). Don't be afraid to use public transportation, bus,train, etc. Just keep an eye on your purse. Nancy

Hi Melissa whatever you decide to do have a great time! There is a lot to see in Paris and on the outskirts. Personally if it was my first time I would just stick around Paris and take day trips. But since you indicated you wanted to go south, I think Uncle Sam had a great idea. Just remember that you are going in high season so it is going to be more crowded. Again, whatever you do have fun. P.S. I do not know if you like to shop but I went absolutely bananas my first trip to France. If you like to shop bring an empty suitcase! Bon Voyage!

Julie: In this very case the problem is not getting too tired by the trip, it is more simply having time enough to see things. For insdtance, one could spend only two days in Paris, but the Louvre museum will take the full two days in particular if you want to explore it thoroughly, the Muse d'Orsay alone will keep you busy for one full day. Using ten days to explore Paris (at least 4 days) and say the Provence region (4 more days) will be barely enough to scratch the surface of both, and will not leae you much time to rest between one sight and the other. Add half a day for the arrival, half a day for moving from Paris to Avignon, and one day for moving back to Paris and leaving the country and you have exactly a 10 days holiday in France.